Ohanaeze youth wing is illegal- Igariwey

From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
Former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Enwo Igariwey, has described the acclaimed leadership of Ohanaeze Youth wing led by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro as illegal and therefore lacked the locus standi to announce the removal of Chief Nnia Nwodo as helmsman of the pan-Igbo group.
In an interview with The AUTHORITY, Prof. Igariwey said that the parent body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo under his leadership disbanded the youth wing before he handed over the mantle of leadership to Nwodo based on the recommendations of the panel set up by a�?Ime -Obi Ohanaezea�? the highest decision -making body of the organisation.
Igariwey said that the panel headed by Prof. Atamuo found the then leadership of the youth wing under Mazi Isiguzoro to have been involved in a�?financial recklessness, extortion, misrepresentation and unruly behavioura�? which dragged the image and reputation of the parent body to the mud.
His words: a�?During my regime as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the then youth wing led by Mazi Isiguzoro operated as if a�?there were two parallel bodies, taking decisions and making unguided utterances in the media without the permission or consent of the parent body. Several efforts made to bring him to order fell on deaf ears.
a�?We didn’t envisage the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo presenting different opinions on national issues mostly as they concern the Igbo nation. The then youth wing under Mazi Isiguzoro also embarked on reckless missions outside Igbo land without the consent of the parent body. It became obvious that they were in pursuit of their selfish interest. The six-man committee set up by ‘Ime -Obi Ohanaeze chaired by Prof. Atamuo investigated and recommended for the temporal disbandment of the youth wing. We sacked them accordingly before conducting election that brought the emergence of Chief Nnia Nwodo as my successor.
a�?Ohanaeze youth wing under Mazi Isiguzoro seized to exist before Nwodo came to power. I don’t see any justification for Mazi Isiguzoro to have continued to make public statements with the name of Ohanaeze youth wing. Probably, the media was not well informed on the matter or can it be said that some of your colleagues deliberately decided to be given him undeserved publicity?a�? he asked.
One of the purported leaders of the youth wing, Mr.Adibe has denied his involvement in the alleged sack of Nwodo by leadership of the youth arm.
Adibe said that the purported letter to that effect was the personal imagination of Isiguzoro and Mrs. Callista Admaluchukwu, stating most members of the disbanded youth wing l accepted their sack in good faith and went their way.